Raw Scouting Notes: Evaluating the Top Prospects from Illawarra versus Tasmania

The Illawarra Hawks and the Tasmania JackJumpers squared off in early season NBL action that featured two NBA prospects that teams are closely tracking from Illawarra, AJ Johnson and Lachlan Olbrich. Let’s take a look at the raw scouting notes from their performances.

AJ Johnson

Guard I 6'5"

Box Score: 12 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1-5 FGA, 0-2 3PA

• Off-ball production will be important all season. Similar situation to a fellow NBL Rising Star, Trentyn Flowers, in that both will need to adjust playing off the ball to have a consistent impact. Neither will be relied upon to be lead ball handlers in the NBL and it remains to be seen about the NBA. It’s an opportunity to create additional value and show teams his role adaptability and versatility.
• His only points came from off ball movement. Made a timely baseline cut to score on a reverse layup with his offhand. Cut a couple of other times earlier in the game, but didn't get the ball and it didn't appear to deter him from continue to cut when the opportunity was there.

• Catch-and-shoot threes will be important to monitor. Air-balled one long, but it was on target and he shot it with confidence. 
• Had a couple of assertive attacks off the bounce to get downhill and to the rim, one out of a pick-and-roll and the other after a nice hesitation move to get a step on his defender. Unfortunately, he was blocked at the rim on both attempts by the on ball defender. Would have liked to either see him get into the defenders body to help negate the defender’s length or be audacious with his explosive athleticism to try to dunk it.

• Mostly was engaged defensively in his limited minutes. Jumped a passing lane for a deflection in the final moments of the game. Earlier in the game, had a possession where his initial ball pressure was excellent, but then was beat backdoor for a layup.

Lachlan Olbrich

Big | 6'10"

Box Score: 15 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds (3 off), 1-4 FGA 

• Plays with effort on both ends, you can’t teach that. Had a sequence where he fell down after contesting a shot at the rim out of his area then collected two offensive rebounds to finish (kept ball high). Good seal after the drag screen as well.

• Illustrating more of his effort: hustled back in transition to track two defenders and contest a made 3-pointer (seemed like he had close to double digit contests), free throw box out into a floor run and seal that he should have got the ball on, and gave multiple defensive efforts in rotation and recovery on a defensive possession that ended up with him being beat off the bounce for a layup by Crawford. No match for Crawford’s speed and quickness.

• How limited is he as a finisher and defender? Missed a couple of attempts at the rim and did not exhibit much vertical pop or explosion. Must rely on craft and touch to score amongst NBA trees.

• What kind of pick-and-roll coverages work for him? Tasmania put him in several pick-and-rolls with success. Got stuck on one screen that led to a layup and had a few pullups knocked down on him, despite fairly decent contests. Keep a close eye on this. Can he just be competitive?

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